AncientFaces Your browser does not support JavaScript!
Please enable JavaScript to view the entire contents of this page.

Joseph Colpitts 1901 - 1942

Joseph Colpitts was born on February 16, 1901 at Kitchen Terrace, in Grimsargh, Lancashire County, England United Kingdom, and died at age 41 years old on November 3, 1942 at New Guinea. Joseph Colpitts was buried at Port Moresby (bomana) War Cemetery C7. C. 14. in Papua New Guinea. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Joseph Colpitts.

Joseph Colpitts

February 16, 1901

Kitchen Terrace, in Grimsargh, Lancashire County, England, PR2, United Kingdom

November 3, 1942

New Guinea

Male

Looking for another Joseph Colpitts?

Joseph Colpitts Joseph Colpitts (1901 - 1942)

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

This page exists for YOU
and everyone who remembers Joseph.

Share what you know,
even ask what you wish you knew.

Invite others to do the same,
but don't worry if you can't...

Someone, somewhere will find this page,
and we'll notify you when they do.

Joseph Colpitts' History: 1901 - 1942

Uncover new discoveries and connections today by sharing about people & moments from yesterday.

- Discover how AncientFaces works.

02/16

1901

Birthday

February 16, 1901

Birthdate

Kitchen Terrace, in Grimsargh, Lancashire County, England PR2, United Kingdom

Birthplace

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Ethnicity & Family History

White British
Nationality & Locations

Britain and Australia
Military Service

Service number: nx8905 Rank: Sergeant Regiment: Australian Infantry Unit/ship/squadron: A.i.f. 2/1 Bn.
Personal Life & Family

Mansfield//Braithwaite
11/3

1942

Death

November 3, 1942

Death date

Killed in Action

Cause of death

New Guinea
Death location

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
Port Moresby (bomana) War Cemetery C7. C. 14. in Papua New Guinea
Burial location
Obituary

Official advice was received on Friday night that Corpora Joseph Colpitts, of Griffith, had died of wounds. It is presumed that the wounds were received in the fighting in New Guinea as his last communications were from there. Altogether, he fought in nine different countries in this war. In the last war he was a member of the Grenadier Guards. The late Corporal Colpitts, who was aged 42 years, enlisted in the second A.I.F. from Griffith in the early part of 1940. He went to the Middle East and fought in the first Libyan campaign. Following that he went over to Greece and through the whole of the Grecian campaign. During that time he experienced hard fighting. He saw his comrades killed all round him in large numbers, but managed to survive. At one stage, when troops were on the retreat, his party was reduced to cooking grass in tin hats to eat. The Greek people were most kind to all the Allied soldiers and di everything possible to assist them. A Greek merchant paid the owner of a small boat £100 to take a party of soldiers, including the deceased over to Crete. In order to avoid attack from German aircraft, the party had to travel from island to island by night, hiding in an island by day. At arrival on the island of Samos, quite close to the coast of Turkey they telephoned the British Counsel on the mainland. The Consul advised them that if they came ashore they would be interned. However, he sent them foodstuffs and tobacco. The party then resumed its journey going southward. On reaching Crete the members went through the second campaign on that island. When the Germans had secured possession of the northern part of the island, this soldier from Griffith, along with other survivors, marched over the mountainous centre of the island to the south coast. That was, of course, very rough going. But they were able to get a boat in which to sail back to Egypt. Some time later, the deceased soldier volunteered to return with a party of men in Crete in order to rescue some of the soldiers who had been left behind on the island and were living in caves and, it is understood, in the woods awaiting a chance of being rescued. The rescue party was successful in bringing back several hundred men to Egypt. Afterwards the intrepid soldier saw service in Syria. He was also stationed for a considerable time in Palestine. From there he sent, together with photographs, some very interesting letters regarding the sacred placed, people and commerce. While in a cafe in the Middle East he accidentally met his brother, Bill. He had not previously known that his brother was in the army at that time. On the return journey to Australia the deceased was stationed in Ceylon for a while. That was about the time when the Japanese were threatening to attack India. Whilst in Perth he had the opportunity of seeing his father, Mr. W. R. Colpitts. On returing to Griffith he had a fortnight's leave during which he was visited by many old friends. He was one of 22 returned A.I.F. and R.A.A.F. men tendered a welcome home in the Memorial Hall on August 18. Subsequently he was sent north and was soon in the fighting in New Guinea He was in constant communication with his wife, giving general reports as to his welfare, and making plans for the future - plans which, alas, will never materialise. A communication from the minister for the Army advised that the soldier died of wounds on November 3. In a recent letter deceased stated that he had served in nine different countries in this war. The deceased soldier first came to the [Griffith] Area with his parents from England in 1927, his father being a retired Sergeant of police in Manchester. Here deceased married Miss Elizabeth Snaith. After about a year here, the Colpitts went to Western Australia where deceased took up land. For five years he was engaged in wheat growing in that State. He and his wife also conducted the Griffith baths and tuck shop for a couple of years. He was also manager of the Yends branch of the Murrumbidgee Packing House. Much sympathy will be felt for the widow in the loss of her brave husband. Deceased's mother died whilst he was on active service in the Middle East, about six months ago. His only two brothers are in the A.I.F. His brother William also went through the Libyan campaign."

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Looking for more information?
share

Memories

below

Be the 1st
to remember Joseph

Select options below to share special moments.

Introduction Early Life & Education Baptism Religious Beliefs Professional Career Add Memory Add Photo Ask others to share How this works

Share what you remember.
Ask what you wish to know.
Connect to discover more.
Advertisement
Did you know?

Joseph Colpitts lived 34 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 41.

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Looking for more information?
share

Memories

below

Add Memories, Stories & Photos about Joseph

Valerie Mansfield

3 favorites

01/02/2011

JOSEPH COLPITTS 42 years of age

Sgt Joseph Colpitts NX8905 belonged to the 6th Australian Div. Sup. Coln. A.A.S.C. A.I.F]
Joseph Collpitts Rank of Sergeant Service No: NX8905 his date of death: 3 November 1942 aged 42 years.
For the story of Joseph Colpitts can contact Val Mansfield//Robert Braithwaite.
Source of Information: from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Photo was originally taken & supplied to me from Gail Thomas in Port Morsby.

Date & Place: October 25, 2009 at Lae Memorial War Cemetery at [BOMANA] in PORT MORSBY, New Guinea Guinea

Comments

Ian Pearson

3 favorites

01/31/2014

Joe Colpitts was my Great Uncle. Born in Grimsargh, Lancashire in 1901 was in the Grenadier Guards throughout WW1 and emigrated to Australia between the wars. Colpitts Street in Griffith, NSW is named after him. Brothers were Bill and George, father William. I have more information on the whole Colpitts family including those who remained in the UK when most emigrated.

Favorite

Loading...one moment please

- See how biographies work.

Be the 1st to share and we'll let you know when others do the same.

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

Joseph Colpitts' Family Tree & Friends

Joseph Colpitts' Family Tree

Parent

Joseph Colpitts Feb 16, 1901 - Nov 3, 1942

Partner

Child

Sibling

Friendships

Joseph's Friends

2 Followers & Sources

Connect with others who remember Joseph Colpitts to share and discover more memories. People who have contributed to this page are listed below and in the Biography History of changes. Sign in to your free account to view changes.

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

Other Biographies

Other Joseph Colpitts Biographies

Colpitts, Joseph (May 24, 1950 - Dec 23, 2001)

Other Colpitts Family Biographies

Colpitts, Maud (Born Aug 7, 1877) Colpitts, Harry (Born Jun 1, 1874) Colpitts, Blanche (Born Dec 25, 1901) Colpitts, James (Nov 30, 1907 - Nov 1983) Colpitts, George (Feb 24, 1903 - Sep 1965) Colpitts, Dorothy (Jan 9, 1934 - Feb 25, 1999) Colpitts, Forrest (Aug 12, 1937 - Aug 1987) Colpitts, Irene (Jul 31, 1932 - Apr 11, 2009) Colpitts, Dorothy (Feb 21, 1930 - Sep 7, 2000) Colpitts, Charles (Jan 18, 1933 - Aug 18, 2009)

Colpitts, Minnie (May 30, 1900 - Oct 19, 1996) Colpitts, Keith (Jul 25, 1918 - Jan 26, 2008) Colpitts, Lincoln (Oct 20, 1913 - Sep 1982) Colpitts, Garnet (Jan 9, 1883 - Jul 1968) Colpitts, Harold (Jul 28, 1898 - Jul 1968) Colpitts, Zithie (Apr 9, 1894 - Sep 1968) Colpitts, Bertha (Jun 22, 1891 - May 1969) Colpitts, Harold (Apr 19, 1930 - Jun 17, 1994) Colpitts, Blanche (Jul 8, 1894 - Aug 12, 1988) Colpitts, Barbara (Nov 2, 1941 - Mar 5, 2006)

About the AncientFaces Community

Joseph Colpitts 1901 - 1942

Joseph Colpitts' History: 1901 - 1942

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Nationality & Locations

Military Service

Personal Life & Family

Death

Gravesite & Burial

Obituary

Add Memories, Stories & Photos about Joseph

Joseph Colpitts' Family Tree & Friends

Joseph Colpitts' Family Tree

Joseph's Friends

Other Joseph Colpitts Biographies

Other Colpitts Family Biographies